Castleford Tigers youngster Turner earns new deal

Castleford Tigers have confirmed that their promising youngster Calum Turner has signed a new two-year contract extension.

The 19-year-old has impressed his coaches and fans after just a handful of Super League appearances and has been rewarded with a new two-year deal until the end of the 2020 season.

Turner made a try scoring Super League debut against Hull FC earlier this season. The young full-back will be remembered more recently for his impressive performance against Warrington Wolves, spearheading the Tigers to a win with his impressive goal kicking.

Away from the first team, Turner has been a vital cog in the Tigers Under 19s set up for the past two seasons, helping the side to the Academy Grand Final in 2017 and then going on to play for the England Academy last winter.

Turner said: “I’m very happy about my new deal. Getting to play Super League this season has been a really good experience for me and hopefully I can get some more games under my belt maybe this year, but I’m just looking to crack on for the next two years now and get some consistent game time.”

Turner attracted interest from other clubs but staying with his local club was never in doubt: “I’m from Cas, this is my home town club and it’s going places,” he added.

“It was an easy decision for me to stay here, I’m really looking forward to what the next two years brings.”

Tigers head coach Daryl Powell said: “It’s great news for the club that Calum has agreed to stay with us. He is another young player who has come through our youth system and showed real potential this season.

“I look forward to working with Calum over the coming seasons to see him achieve his strong potential as a rugby league player.”

Castleford director of rugby Jon Wells said: “We are delighted that Calum has committed his next two years of development to the Tigers.

“He is a talented, level-headed young man who has a bright future in the game if he continues to apply himself as he has done this season.

“On a personal note, it is always good to see a local product progress through the ranks to the first team and I hope Calum serves as an example and role model to those behind him that this is a club that will look to its youth as much as the rest of the rugby league world for talent to take the Tigers forward.”

Darren Higgins, Tigers’ head of youth performance, is delighted to see a product of the club’s youth set up make the step up to Super League.

He added: “It’s great to see Calum rewarded with a contract extension on the back of his recent debut at Super League level. As a club we are extremely proud of Calum’s progression from our scholarship and the U19s environment into full-time training and this sends out a clear message to other aspiring players within our system.”

Calum’s contract extension also follows the recent news that U19s winger Lewis Carr has signed a new two-year contract extension, after an impressive season, which currently sees him flying high at the top of the Tigers try scorer table.